The Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives moved this week to advance a series of bills targeting juvenile crime in Washington, D.C., approving two measures on Tuesday and preparing to debate two more on Wednesday. The legislative push comes amid heightened federal involvement in the District as President Donald Trump escalates efforts to combat violent crime and enforce immigration laws in the nation’s capital.

One of the bills approved Tuesday, titled the D.C. CRIMES Act, would significantly alter how young offenders are treated under local law. The measure lowers the maximum age at which defendants can be prosecuted as juveniles from 24 to 18. It also requires that individuals convicted of serious offenses face sentencing standards aligned with adult mandatory minimums. Additionally, the bill mandates that the District publicly release detailed data on youth crime, aiming to increase transparency and accountability.

The second bill, known as the Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act, goes further by allowing minors as young as 14 to be tried as adults for certain serious crimes. While both proposals received some bipartisan backing, the Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act passed by a narrower margin, reflecting stronger Democratic opposition.

Supporters of the legislation argue that the District’s current policies are overly lenient and fail to adequately address serious criminal behavior. Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, who sponsored the CRIMES Act, criticized the existing framework, saying it defies common sense to allow legal adults to receive sentences designed for children.

These measures are part of a broader package of roughly a dozen House bills focused on public safety in Washington, D.C. The legislative effort coincides with actions by the Trump administration, which recently deployed elements of the D.C. National Guard and directed federal agencies — including the Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement — to assist local authorities in addressing crime and illegal immigration.

Once approved by the House, the bills will move to the Senate, which is also controlled by Republicans. However, it remains uncertain whether all of the measures will advance there. In a similar episode in 2023, the Senate passed a House resolution blocking a District law that would have reduced penalties for certain crimes. That resolution was ultimately signed into law by then-President Joe Biden, despite his broader support for D.C. self-governance.

At the time, Biden acknowledged backing D.C. statehood and home rule but objected to specific changes adopted by the D.C. Council over the mayor’s opposition, including reductions in penalties for offenses such as carjacking.

Although residents of Washington, D.C. elect their own mayor and city council, Congress retains sweeping authority over the District under the Home Rule Act of 1973. That authority allows lawmakers to overturn local laws and exert influence over the city’s criminal justice system — a power that continues to spark debate over local autonomy.

According to reports, the two bills scheduled for House consideration on Wednesday would further expand congressional oversight. One proposal would authorize police officers to physically pursue suspects under certain circumstances, while another would limit the District’s involvement in approving judicial appointments. Critics argue these measures undermine local control, while supporters say they are necessary to restore public safety.

The legislative activity coincides with a surge in federal law enforcement presence in Washington. Last month, President Trump ordered National Guard units and federal agents into the city, asserting that local leaders had failed to curb rising crime.

Data from the Metropolitan Police Department suggests mixed but notable changes in crime patterns during the first full week of increased federal involvement. For the week beginning August 12, reported property crimes declined by approximately 19 percent compared to the previous week, while violent crime fell by about 17 percent.

Some categories saw sharper declines. Robberies and vehicle break-ins dropped by more than 40 percent, while thefts remained largely unchanged. Other offenses moved in the opposite direction: burglaries increased by 6 percent, and assaults involving dangerous weapons rose 14 percent. Two homicides were reported during that week, consistent with recent trends, though no additional killings were recorded after August 13.

Federal agencies have been working alongside local police, assisting with patrols, arrests, searches, and warrant operations, often using unmarked vehicles.

At the same time, immigration enforcement in the District increased dramatically. Since August 7, federal officials have arrested roughly 300 individuals without legal immigration status — more than ten times the city’s typical weekly average for ICE arrests.

Responding to media coverage of the data, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson rejected claims that the results were modest. She argued that the reductions in crime represented meaningful improvements for residents and visitors alike, emphasizing that the administration’s primary goal remains removing violent offenders from the streets, regardless of immigration status.